David Cameron made his remarks on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show (Picture: BBC/PA)

David Cameron has insisted he would not shirk from the military defence of the Falkland Islands in the event of an Argentinean invasion.

The prime minister said Britain had an ‘extremely strong’ resolve to defend islanders, and pointed to the presence of jets and troops in the south Atlantic.

In the past week Argentina’s president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner accused the UK of colonialism and demanded the Malvinas, as they are known in the South American country, be handed over.

A British flag is set on fire by protesters in Buenos Aires (Picture: Reuters)

In an open letter published in the Guardian as an advert, she said Britain had originally assumed control of the islands in a ‘blatant exercise of 19th century colonialism’.

But Mr Cameron said he was ‘absolutely clear’ the UK would defend the islands if they were attacked.

Tensions have risen between the two countries since last year’s 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, in which 649 Argentinean troops and 258 British service personnel died, while oil resources have also been discovered off the islands.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has demanded the UK cede sovereignty of the Falklands (Picture: AFP/Getty)

‘I get regular reports on this entire issue because I want to know that our defences are strong, our resolve is extremely strong,’ Mr Cameron said on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show.

The prime minister, who said the UK had one of the five largest defence budgets in the world, continued: ‘We have strong defences in place on the Falkland Islands, that is absolutely key, that we have fast jets stationed there, we have troops stationed on the Falklands.’

The Falklands is set to hold a referendum later this year on whether to retain its status as a British overseas territory.